Calendar of beauties hopes to break down anti-traveller stereotypes

Travellers in Ireland, often stereotyped and much maligned, have come together to promote a new image.

Aiming to break down long-standing prejudices, a competition was launched to find 12 young glamorous women to represent the next generation and pose for a calendar.

Called 'Beauty has no Boundaries' it shows the dozen traveller women, aged 17 to 24, dressed to the nines and posing in a restored Georgian mansion in Dublin city centre.

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Above: The 12 women pose for a calendar group shot

Irish Traveller Albie McDonagh

They were selected for the photo-shoot with the help of style gurus at Ireland's VIP magazine following a nationwide search.

The calendar, sponsored by the Voice of the Traveller magazine, was launched at the National Association of Travellers Centres Conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Irish traveller Santana Harper

Irish President Mary McAleese addressed the event and noted the obstacles Travellers faced in the past but said things are changing.

"Two decades ago, virtually no Traveller children transferred from national school to second level. It was unheard of for traveller young people to go on to college or university," she said.

"That story is no longer true and today the genius of young Travellers is revealing itself in many different ways. But there is still a very long road to travel before the remarkable opportunities Ireland has on offer today are fully accessed and used by the Traveller community."

Sinead Burke, editor of Voice of the Traveller Magazine, said: "We hope this calendar challenges the public perception of Travellers. "These girls represent a new generation of Travellers who share the same aspirations as all young Irish people."